If you’re thinking about having a surface cleaned, stripped, or restored, you’ll probably hear terms like “grit,” “media,” or “abrasive.” At Atlanta Blasting Professionals, we keep it simple:

“Grit” is the hardness and size of the particles we use to clean your surface. Choosing the right grit is like choosing the right tool:

• Too harsh, and you can damage the surface.
• Too gentle, and the coating or rust doesn’t come off.

Our job is to match the right blasting media to your project so you get a clean, restored surface without unnecessary damage or cost.

Expert Note: While many call this “Grit Blasting,” it’s actually the art of Abrasive Blasting. “Grit” is just the specific tool we choose for the job. Whether we use angular steel grit for industrial rust or soft walnut shells for residential wood, the process is built on precision media selection.

The Science Behind It (Explained Simply)

In the blasting world, we often refer to the Mohs Scale, which measures how hard a material is on a range from 1 to 10:

• 1 = very soft material.
• 10 = extremely hard material.

Soft Media: Gentle Cleaning for Sensitive Surfaces

Soft blasting media is gentle and ideal for restoring sensitive surfaces like wood or fiberglass.

• Sodium Bicarbonate (baking soda).
• Crushed walnut shell.
• Corn cob.

Medium Grit: Versatile, Effective, and Eco-Friendly

Most projects fall into the medium grit category, offering a balance of cleaning power, surface protection, and cost-effectiveness. Our most-used media is recycled crushed glass due to its performance and eco-friendly nature.

Hard Media: When You Need Maximum Cutting Power

For the toughest coatings such as heavy rust, thick paint, or mill scale we use harder abrasives such as:

• Copper slag
• Garnet

Examples of Media We Use

• Sodium Bicarbonate (Soft – Mohs 2.5): Wood, fiberglass, delicate surfaces.
• Fine Crushed Glass (Medium – Mohs 5.5): Auto parts, carbon fiber.
• Medium/Coarse Crushed Glass (Mohs 6.5): Metal, brick, concrete.
• Copper Slag (Coarse – Mohs 7.0): Mill scale removal.
• Garnet (Coarse – Mohs 7.5): Mill scale and coating removal.

How Grit Blasting Works

Here’s the basic process of how grit blasting works:

• A blasting machine pressurizes air or water.
• Abrasive grit is mixed with the pressurized stream.
• The mixture is blasted through a nozzle toward the surface.
• The impact removes layers, contaminants, or unwanted materials.

It’s a fast, controlled, and highly efficient cleaning method used for both small and large-scale projects.

The Grit Blasting Process: Step-by-Step

• Inspection & Assessment: Evaluate the condition of metal, concrete, or wood.
• Surface Masking: Protect surrounding areas not meant to be blasted.
• Selection of Media: Choose grit type based on the surface (steel grit, garnet, glass bead, aluminum oxide).
• Blasting: Apply abrasive at controlled pressure and angle.
• Cleanup: Remove dust and debris.
• Coating/Finishing: Apply primer, paint, or sealant immediately to prevent flash rust.

Types of Grit Blasting

Different blasting methods exist depending on material, finish, and project requirements:

• Dry Grit Blasting: Most common for heavy rust and paint removal.
• Wet Grit Blasting: Uses water to reduce dust; safer in closed spaces.
• Vacuum Blasting: Collects abrasive and dust instantly; clean and eco-friendly.
• Automated Blasting Systems: Used in industries for large batches of metal parts.

Where Grit Blasting is Used

Grit blasting works on many surfaces, such as:

• Metal (rust removal & coating prep).
• Concrete (floor prep, coating removal).
• Wood (restoration, refinishing).
• Tiles & masonry (cleaning, texturing).

It is commonly used in construction, manufacturing, marine, automotive, and restoration industries.

Benefits of Grit Blasting

• Deep cleaning of surfaces.
• Better coating adhesion.
• Faster than manual scraping or grinding.
• Removes hard contaminants easily.
• Provides a uniform surface finish.
• Works on multiple materials.

Grit Blasting vs Sandblasting

Many people confuse these two, but they’re different:

• Grit blasting uses angular abrasives for deeper cutting.
• Sandblasting typically uses sand, but is now less popular due to silica dust risks.
• Grit blasting is safer, more effective, and more versatile.

Grit Blasting vs Shot Blasting

• Shot blasting uses round metallic balls (shots) and is mainly used for heavy industrial floors.
• Grit blasting uses sharper particles for precision cleaning.

Bring Your Surfaces Back to Life with Professional Grit Blasting

If you’re dealing with rust, old paint, corrosion, or surfaces that just won’t look clean no matter what you try, grit blasting is the fastest and most effective solution. For safe, high-quality, and professional surface preparation, Atlanta Blasting Professionals is here to help.

Contact Atlanta Blasting today for expert grit blasting services in Atlanta.

Restore your metal, concrete, and wood surfaces with precision, done right the first time.

When it comes to restoring surfaces to their original condition, two of the most effective technologies available today are Sandblasting (Media Blasting) and Ice Blasting. While both methods remove unwanted coatings, rust, stains, and contaminants, they work in different ways and are best suited for different types of materials.

What is Sandblasting (Media Blasting)?

Sandblasting also known as media blasting, is one of the most powerful and efficient surface-restoration methods. It uses high-pressure air mixed with an abrasive material to remove coatings, rust, paint, stains, and more.

Why Sandblasting Works So Well

• Extremely fast and efficient.
• Highly effective on tough coatings and heavy rust.
• Creates a surface “profile” ideal for paint and coating adhesion.
• Restores surfaces close to their original condition.

Sandblasting is abrasive by design, meaning it removes a small amount of the underlying surface. This makes it ideal for deep cleaning but can create dust and debris during the process.

Materials Best Suited for Sandblasting

• Metal
• Brick
• Concrete
• Stone
• Tile
• Wood
• Carbon

Common Sandblasting Applications

• Automobile restoration
• Metal restoration (removal of coatings, rust, primer, mill scale)
• Tile restoration (scale removal)
• Brick and cement restoration
• Graffiti removal
• Wood restoration (removal of paint, stain, soot, mold)

What is Ice Blasting?

Ice Blasting often referred to as CO₂ blasting, is a non-abrasive cleaning process that uses pressurized dry ice or CO₂ vapor to freeze and lift contaminants from a surface. Because no abrasive media is used, it leaves the underlying material intact.

Benefits of Ice Blasting

• Extremely clean process with little to no secondary waste.
• Non-abrasive—does not remove or profile the underlying surface.
• Preserves delicate or high-value components.
• Ideal for environments where dust or debris must be minimized.

Materials Best Suited for Ice Blasting

• Metal
• Plastic
• Rubber
• Wood
• Molded materials

Common Ice Blasting Applications

• Fire, smoke, and mold remediation.
• Restaurant and food manufacturing equipment.
• Industrial printing equipment.
• Maintenance in aviation, automotive, and power generation industries.

Which Method is Right for Your Project?

Choosing between Sandblasting and Ice Blasting depends on the condition of your surface and the result you need:

• Choose Sandblasting for maximum coating removal, rust removal, and creating a profile for new coatings.
• Choose Ice Blasting when you need a clean, non-abrasive approach that protects delicate or sensitive materials.

Need Professional Surface Restoration?

Whether you’re restoring industrial equipment, preparing a surface for painting, or removing heavy coatings, Atlanta Blasting Professionals has the tools, technology, and domain expertise to achieve exceptional results.

View a video of mold remediation using ice blasting by clicking on link below: